Aussie road rage on the rise

Plan ahead if you want to avoid being delayed by roadworks this summer.Source:Supplied

A new website has been launched to map a massive road maintenance blitz with summer works set to cause headaches.

More than 224 kilometres of suburban roads will be repaired over the next year, as part of a record $183 million blitz.

It will include upgrades to sections of the Princes Highway, Nepean Highway and Hume Freeway, as well as key arterials like Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Rd, Centre Dandenong Rd and the South Gippsland Highway.

It lists the upgrades as asphalt resurfacing, sprayseal resurfacing or pavement rehabilitation, and explains why each are needed.

Much of the work will be carried out over summer, with October to April the prime time for road construction. As well as roadworks there will be major disruptions to public transport.

Plan ahead if you want to avoid being delayed by roadworks this summer.Source:Supplied

SUMMER ROAD CLOSURES AND UPGRADES

METRO

Yan Yean Road and Aqueduct Road

2 January until 24 January — Intersection of Yan Yean, Diamond Creek and Aqueduct Roads in Plenty will be closed to traffic travelling on Aqueduct and Yan Yean roads. Only one lane operating in each direction on Diamond Creek Road. Anyone travelling on Yan Yean Road can take Kurrak Road to Plenty Road, then M80 Ring Road to the Greensborough Bypass.

Plenty Road

30 November 2018 until 18 January 2019 — Northbound centre-median closed at Rivergum Drive from Friday 30 November to mid-January 2019. No right-hand turn from Plenty Road into Rivergum Drive. No right-hand turn from Rivergum Drive into Plenty Road. Detour via University Drive.

Maroondah Highway/Dorset Road

Early December to December 24 — Works will result in a lane closure on Dorset Road. Southbound traffic to use new Dorset Rd service lane; northbound traffic to use newly constructed traffic lane. Reduced 40km/h speed on Dorset Rd.

Keilor Road/Newman Street near Calder Freeway

January 13 until January 20, 2019 — Nightworks will result in full closure of both intersections. On and off ramps to the Calder Freeway will be closed with detours in place.

South Gippsland Highway and Hallam Road

2 November to 18 January 2019 - South Gippsland Highway, near Hallam Road reduced to one lane in both directions. Right turns into Hallam Road from the highway or onto the Highway from Hallam Road will not be allowed. Drivers can detour via Lynbrool Boulevard.

Chandler Highway

16 December 2018 — 19 December 2018. One lane closed between Yarra Boulevard and the Eastern Freeway from Sunday 16 December to Wednesday 19 December, from 8pm to 6am each night. Additionally until 31 December speeds will be reduced to 40km/h from 9pm to 5am each day, between Heidelberg Road and the Eastern Freeway outbound exit ramp.

Until December 31st — Intermittent lane closures and reduced speeds in both directions from 8.30pm to 5.30am, Sunday nights to Friday mornings, until late-2018.

Punt Road

Until December 31st — Intermittent lane closures and reduced speeds in both directions from 8.30pm to 5.30am, Sunday nights to Friday mornings, until late-2018. There is also no left-hand turn lane from Punt Road into Brunton Avenue.

St Kilda Road — South Melbourne

14 Feb 18 until 14 Feb 22 — St Kilda Road will be reduced to one traffic lane in each direction between Dorcas Street and Toorak Road West for up to four years. There will be no access to Domain Road or Bowen Lane from St Kilda Road.

West Gate Freeway

2 Jan 18 until 1 Jan 22 — Single lane closures in both directions overnight between Millers Road and Williamstown Road. Speed limits will be reduced from 100km/h to 80km/h near work zones. Closures are ongoing for widening works between 2018 and 2022.

Gap Road/Horne Street

December to January - Speed reduction to 40km/h. Pedestrian detours. Localised lane closures during business hours. Some noise expected during asphalting profiling and concrete kerb removal

Road detours will be in place at some roadworks. Pictures: AAP Image/Morgan SetteSource:News Corp Australia

One lane closed in both directions and speed limits reduced to 40km/h daily between, 9:30am to 3:30pm.

A small part of St Kilda Road will be shut down to one lane in each direction for Metro Tunnel works. Picture: Sarah MatraySource:News Corp Australia

REGIONAL VICTORIA

Napier Street, Bendigo

Upgrade works are underway and will continue throughout summer with a break between December 21 and January 7, 2019. Works are taking place between Bosquet and Powell streets, involving closures.

Pyrenees Highway between Newstead and Muckleford South

Late January — expected to be complete by the end of February 2019 — Works will take place along a 4km stretch of the highway to install flexible rope safety barriers and guard fences and seal road shoulders and parts of intersections. There will be single lane closures and a 40km/h speed reduction.

Princes Highway between Winchelsea and Colac

30 June 2018 to 30 December 2018 — Reduced to one lane in each direction with reduced speed limits.

Ayreys Reserve Road

20 November 2018 to 31 March 2019 — Road closed at the intersection with the Princes Highway from Tuesday 20 November until late March 2019. Detour via Birregurra Road and Darcys Road.

Early January — expected to be completed by May 2019 — Intersection upgrade. There will be single lane closures and a 40km/h speed reduction.

Sea Lake Road, Swan Hill

Early January for up to one day — Final sealing works following building works in 2018 will result in single lane closures and a 40km/h speed reduction.

Chauncey Street, Lancefield

Mid January — expected to end late January, 2019 — A new school crossing will be installed near St Mary’s Primary School resulting in a single lane closure and 40km/h speed reduction.

Geelong-Bacchus Marsh Road

Underway, will continue throughout summer with a break between December 21 and January 7, 2019 — Safety upgrades are resulting in a speed limit reduction, a Geelong-bound lane closure and detour and no access to the Lara side of Geelong-Bacchus Marsh Road. Stop-go traffic controllers will be on site at the Elcho Road intersection from 9am-3:30pm Monday-Saturday.

Princes Freeway, Morwell

January 7 — expected to end late February, 2019 — Bridge strengthening works will result in lane closures and a reduced 40km/h speed limit on the Princes Freeway bridges. Commercial Road will be closed with detours in place.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT SUMMER DISRUPTIONS

CRANBOURNE/PAKENHAM LINES

Buses replacing trains between Flinders St and Westall from January 2-13.

FRANKSTON LINE

Buses replacing trains between Flinders St and Moorabbin from January 2-13.

GIPPSLAND LINE

Buses replacing trains along the entire Gippsland line from January 2-13.

Works will upgrade the Cranbourne and Pakenham lines for the rollout of Melbourne’s new high-capacity trains. Picture: SuppliedSource:Supplied

BENDIGO, SWAN HILL AND ECHUCA TRAINS

“Essential works” between Sunbury and Swan Hill will see buses replacing trains between January 12-27.

TRAMS

Maintenance work between Warrigal Rd and Camberwell Rd from January 3-12 January, with buses replacing trams for part of the journey.